Welcome to the Duddon Valley Local History Group Website

DVLHG was formed in the early 1990s and runs a programme of activities and talks for its members. Our five year long study of the whole valley has restarted extending the survey to cover areas not walked in earlier phases. Our findings led to our current major project with Oxford Archaeology North excavating three medieval longhouse sites near Seathwaite Tarn.

Duddon Dig

We are now preparing to start our second season to uncover the secrets of Longhouse Close.Read more…

Surveying

Follow our continuing survey work on the valley looking at the Corney Fell.Read more…

Walks

Talks

Previous Projects

Catch up on on our previous exploration and surveying in the valley.Read more…

Downloads and Publications

Read the reports of our activities and find out about the books we have published.Read more…

Latest News

Duddon Dig Final statistics:

The Duddon Dig has been a community archaeology project from the Duddon Valley Local History Group overseen by Oxford Archaeology North, with the support of the Lake District National Park and the National Trust with a major funding contribution from the heritage Lottery Fund.

Stephe Cove has done a lot of the administration over the three years and has put together some final statistics to quantify the contribution that our volunteers have made to the dig.

In total, there were to have been 48 digging days and we lost just one full day and three half days due to the weather. This was helped by the fantastic 2018 summer and contrasts with the 2007 dig higher up the fellside where it rained just about every single day.

There were 788 volunteer days altogether from 106 different volunteers and 9 members of the steering group. 43 came for all three seasons and 43 for just one of the years. As you would expect, 82% of the volunteer days came from Cumbrian addresses. One came from Sweden and one came up from Ascot for two seasons before moving up to work in Cumbria for the final year. Of the “Cumbrians”, 56% were from South Lakeland and 30% from the other side of the Duddon in Copeland.

Many thanks to everyone involved from those who gave us money and materials to those who helped out in so many different ways. We await the scientific results with great interest.

Presentation of results:

Tuesday 6th November 2018

Archaeologists will present the findings of the final season’s excavation of Longhouse Close on Tuesday 6th November at 7.00 pm in the Victory Hall, Broughton-in-Furness. Free admission with buffet and refreshments included.

There will also be a session about the dig at the Archaeological conference at Rheged on Saturday 10th November.

Walks Programme

This year there is a very varied programme, with something to suit everyone. If you intend to go, please contact the Leader at least the day before stating where you will meet. In the event of very bad weather confirm with leader on the day to see if the walk is going ahead.

NB. Start times vary.

Next Walk:

7th February 2019 – Secret Barrow

Stephe Cove 773965 & Dave Hughes 716659

09:30 Broughton Square; 10:15 Town Hall car park SD 198690

Tour of the Town Hall at 10:30, then celebrity graves at the Cemetery or the Archives if wet